Harvick wins rain-delayed race at Bristol

BRISTOL, TENN. - Kevin Harvick wasn't worried about his poor qualifying at Bristol Motor Speedway. In fact, starting 24th gave Harvick exactly what he wanted to win at Bristol Motor Speedway.

"It kind of motivates me," Harvick said Sunday. "I think it's exciting. I like to pass cars."

Harvick made the biggest pass with 70 laps to go, sweeping by Denny Hamlin and holding on to take the rain-delayed race at the half-mile concrete track.

The victory was Harvick's second of the season and second at Bristol - his first in 11 years. It also moved him atop the points standings and gave his program a jolt with only three races left until NASCAR's Chase starts.

Harvick had 13 top-10 finishes in the 18 races since winning at Phoenix in March.

It was the second time in three races - Pocono's Sunday race ended on a Monday three weeks ago - that rain impacted a Sprint Cup race and only a fraction of the 160,000 in the stands Saturday night returned for the conclusion.